Texas Man Admits Smuggling Migrants In Coffin Draped With American Flag

CBS Dallas/Fort Worth

January 28, 2022

A Texas man has pleaded guilty to human smuggling and transporting two men from Mexico in a U.S. flag-draped coffin.

Zachary Taylor Blood of Galveston faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for his plea this week in federal court in Corpus Christi. He will remain in custody until his sentencing, which is scheduled for May 11.

Prosecutors say a van that Blood, 33, was driving arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias, Texas, on October 26. Agents saw the coffin but noticed it was in poor condition with the U.S. flag taped to the lid with packing tape. A secondary inspection revealed two Mexican nationals inside.

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